Press Releases from July 2013http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07
Department of Commerce NewsenU.S. Department of Commerce Produces Comprehensive Analysis Addressing Copyright Policy, Creativity and Innovation in the Digital Economyhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07/31/us-department-commerce-produces-comprehensive-analysis-addressing-cop
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday,
July 31, 2013<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC
AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><strong><em>Department Publishes Green Paper on Updating Copyright Policies for the Internet Age </em></strong></p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a <a title="http://www.uspto.gov/news/publications/copyrightgreenpaper.pdf" href="http://www.uspto.gov/news/publications/copyrightgreenpaper.pdf">green
paper</a> on <em>Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital
Economy</em> (Green Paper) to advance discussion on a set of policy issues
critical to economic growth. The Green Paper discusses the goals of maintaining
an appropriate balance between rights and exceptions as the law continues to be
updated; ensuring that copyright can be meaningfully enforced on the Internet;
and furthering the development of an efficient online marketplace. </p>
<p>The
Green Paper released today is the most thorough and comprehensive analysis of
digital copyright policy issued by any administration since 1995. The report is
a product of the Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force (IPTF) with
input from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). Through the IPTF, the
USPTO and NTIA will solicit further public comments and convene roundtables and
forums on a number of key policy issues. </p>
<blockquote><p>“Copyright
law strikes a number of important balances in delineating what is protectable
and what is not, determining what uses are permitted without a license, and
establishing appropriate enforcement mechanisms to combat piracy, so that all
stakeholders benefit from the protection afforded by copyright,” said U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Ensuring that our copyright policy
provides incentives for creativity while promoting innovation on the Internet is
a critical and challenging task. The Green Paper released today is an important
step toward ensuring that the United States’ creative industries continue to
have a substantial impact on strengthening our nation’s
economy.” </p></blockquote>
<p>Copyright
has been a vital contributor to U.S. cultural and economic development for more
than two hundred years, fostering the production and dissemination of the
valuable expression that has put America at the forefront of the global creative
marketplace. Maintaining a balanced and effective copyright system should
continue to drive the production of creative works while at the same time
preserving the innovative power of the Internet and the free flow of
information. The Green Paper provides a comprehensive review of current policy
related to copyright and the Internet, and identifies important issues that call
for attention and development of solutions. The solutions may entail a
combination of legal remedies, technology, private sector cooperation, and
public outreach and education, along with the continued development of options
to legally access copyrighted works. </p>
<p>In
the Green Paper, the IPTF proposes the following actions:</p>
<ul><li>Establishing a multistakeholder dialogue on improving the
operation of the notice and takedown system under the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act (DMCA).</li><li>Soliciting public comment and convening roundtables
on:<ul><li>The legal framework for the
creation of remixes;</li><li>The relevance and scope of the
first sale doctrine in the digital environment;</li><li>The application of statutory
damages in the context of individual file-sharers and secondary liability for
large-scale online infringement;</li><li>The appropriate role for the
government, if any, to help improve the online licensing environment, including
access to comprehensive public and private databases of rights
information. </li></ul></li></ul>
<blockquote><p>“Copyright
protection is a foundation for creative services and products that drive a
significant part of the U.S. economy,” said Acting Under Secretary for
Intellectual Property and Acting USPTO Director Teresa Stanek Rea. “The Internet
must continue to support a legitimate market for copyrighted works as well as
provide a platform for innovation and the introduction of new and dynamic
services that drive digital commerce.” </p>
<p>“We
see a digital future in which the relationship among digital technology, the
Internet, and creative industries becomes increasingly symbiotic,” said
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA
Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling. “In this digital future, the rights of
creators and copyright owners are appropriately protected; creative industries
continue to make their substantial contributions to the nation’s economic
competitiveness; online service providers continue to expand the variety and
quality of their offerings; technological innovation continues to thrive; and
consumers have access to the broadest possible range of creative
content.” </p></blockquote>
<p>The
Green Paper reiterates the administration’s support for legislation creating a
public performance right for the broadcasting of sound recordings and enabling
prosecutors to seek felony penalties for unauthorized streaming to the public.
It supports congressional or regulatory attention to determine how best to
rationalize rate-setting standards for different types of music services; reform
music licensing, particularly the mechanical license for musical compositions;
and ensure consumers can unlock their cell phones, subject to applicable service
agreements. It supports the U.S. Copyright Office’s work to address the problems
of orphan works and mass digitization, consider possible small claims
procedures, update the statutory exception for libraries, and improve public
registration and recordation systems. The Green Paper also supports and
encourages enhancing public education and outreach
efforts. </p>
<p>With
respect to the difficulties in enforcement against websites dedicated to
infringement, the Green Paper encourages ongoing voluntary initiatives, such as
those facilitated by the U.S.
Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC),
that benefit all parties and are consistent with the principles of privacy, free
speech, competition, and due process, and states that the IPTF will follow these
developments and assess their impact in order to determine whether additional
action is needed. The USPTO has also <a title="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-17/html/2013-17166.htm" href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-07-17/html/2013-17166.htm">extended</a>
its request for comments regarding the processes, data metrics, and
methodologies that could be used to assess the effectiveness of cooperative
agreements and other voluntary initiatives to reduce intellectual property
infringement. This comment solicitation is part of the Administration’s 2013 <a title="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/IPEC/2013-us-ipec-joint-strategic-plan.pdf" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/IPEC/2013-us-ipec-joint-strategic-plan.pdf">Joint
Strategic Plan for Intellectual Property Enforcement</a>. </p>
<p>Then-Secretary
of Commerce Gary Locke launched the IPTF in April 2010, bringing together the
USPTO and NTIA, as well as the International Trade Administration (ITA), the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Economic and
Statistic Administration (ESA) to conduct a comprehensive review of privacy
policy, copyright, global free flow of information, cybersecurity, and their
respective relationships to innovation in the Internet economy. In preparing the
Green Paper, USPTO and NTIA held more than a dozen listening sessions with
interested stakeholders, convened a symposium, received hundreds of public
comments, and reviewed comments submitted to other agencies on relevant topics.
The IPTF will consider feedback it receives from public comments, roundtables
and forums to determine how the current copyright framework can be improved to
serve creators, right holders, service providers, consumers, innovation, and
national economic goals. </p>
<p>The
Green Paper can be found online at: <a href="http://www.uspto.gov/news/publications/copyrightgreenpaper.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.uspto.gov/news/publications/copyrightgreenpaper.pdf</a></p>Press ReleasesInternet Policy Task ForceNational Telecommunications and Information AdministrationPatent and Trademark OfficeSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 31 Jul 2013 16:40:56 +0000kcpullen@doc.gov15825 at http://www.commerce.govOn Second Leg of Listening Tour, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker To Visit Albany, Hartfordhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07/26/second-leg-listening-tour-us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-visit-
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Friday, July 26, 2013<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><em>Pritzker
traveling across the country, engaging with business and thought leaders,
academics and Department of Commerce employees </em></p>
<p>On Tuesday, July 30, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will
visit Albany, NY and Hartford, CT on the second leg of her nationwide listening
tour.&nbsp;During the tour, she’s traveling across the country to meet with
businesses and thought leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and Department of
Commerce employees. While in Albany and Hartford, she’ll hear from these groups
about their priorities, concerns and ideas on how the public and private
sectors can work together to strengthen the economy and create American jobs.</p>
<p>Secretary
Pritzker launched her listening tour earlier this month in Colorado.</p>
<p>“As
Secretary of Commerce, my goal is to serve as a bridge to the business
community – both domestically and abroad – so that we can work together to
strengthen the economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans,”
said Secretary Pritzker. “I intend to leverage the sum of my experiences as an
entrepreneur, a business leader, and a citizen deeply committed to American
competitiveness to help strengthen the Department and the government-wide
leadership it provides in areas such as manufacturing, attracting business
investment, innovation, and exporting.”</p>
<p>In
Albany, Secretary Pritzker will visit SEMATECH and the College of NanoScale
Engineering (CNSE). SEMATECH is a consortium of leading semiconductor device,
equipment, and materials manufacturers and university partners from around the
globe working on collaborative research on computer chip technology. CNSE is part
of the State College of New York (SUNY) system and is home to the world’s most
advanced education, research, and economic development enterprise targeting
nanoelectronics and nanotechnology innovations. Both SEMATECH and CNSE are
models of how the public and private sectors can work together effectively,
advancing innovation, industry collaboration and investment in the United
States. In visiting these sites, Secretary Pritzker is interested in learning
how to build on their successes.</p>
<p>In
Hartford, Secretary Pritzker will visit APS Technology, a firm that started in
1994 providing contract engineering services and has experienced tremendous
growth to become a leading provider of products to the gas drilling industry
around the world. APS has grown from 79 employees in 2008 to over 300 employees
– 265 in the U.S., and exports now account for 85 percent of their
business.&nbsp;In May 2013, APS earned the President’s “E” Award for exports,
the highest recognition any U.S. entity may receive for making a significant
contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.</p>
<p>“The
purpose of this listening tour is to hear directly from business leaders,
entrepreneurs, and elected officials about their efforts to drive economic
development and create good-paying, long-term jobs,” Secretary Pritzker said.
“I believe it’s particularly important to connect with business and thought
leaders early and often, both to hear their ideas on how government and the
private sector can partner on strategic initiatives to grow business, and to
promote the tremendous work the Department of Commerce does on behalf of U.S.
companies. Whether it’s supporting manufacturers, investing in research and
development, empowering exporters to reach new markets, bringing broadband to
communities across the nation, or providing intellectual property protection,
the Department of Commerce is pushing forward with efforts to protect, promote,
anticipate, and inform&nbsp;what America needs to be competitive and innovative
in the 21st century.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>In
both Albany and Hartford, she will hold roundtable discussions to hear from
business leaders about the opportunities and challenges they are facing, and
how the Department of Commerce can best serve as a partner to support business
growth.&nbsp;</p>Press ReleasesAlbanyHartfordListening TourOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerFri, 26 Jul 2013 15:17:19 +0000shorowitz@doc.gov15818 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Launches Nationwide Listening Tourhttp://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07/16/us-secretary-commerce-penny-pritzker-launches-nationwide-listening-to
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Tuesday, July 16, 2013<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><em>Pritzker will
travel across the country, engaging with business and thought leaders,
academics and Department of Commerce employees </em></p><p>U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will launch a nationwide listening tour
this week, during which she will travel across the country to meet with
business and thought leaders, entrepreneurs, academics and Department of
Commerce employees. She’ll hear from these groups about their priorities,
concerns and ideas on how the public and private sectors can work together to
strengthen the economy and create American jobs. </p>
<p>“As
Secretary of Commerce, my goal is to serve as a bridge to the business community
– both domestically and abroad – so that we can work together to strengthen the
economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans,” said Secretary
Pritzker. “I intend to leverage the sum of my experiences as an entrepreneur, a
business leader, and a citizen deeply committed to American competitiveness to
help strengthen the Department and the government-wide leadership it provides
in areas such as manufacturing, attracting business investment, innovation, and
exporting.”</p>
<p>Colorado
marks the first stop on her tour, which begins this week. In Boulder, she will
tour Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp., which produces spacecraft
instruments and sensors, radio frequency and microwave technologies, and a
variety of advanced aerospace technologies and products. Ball Aerospace also
works with Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on
development of its satellite program. While there, Secretary Pritzker will hold
a roundtable with local business and community leaders, as well as government
officials, to hear about the challenges they face when it comes to the growth
and success of businesses and the economy. </p>
<p>In
Denver, Secretary Pritzker will visit Intertech Plastics,
Inc., which is a provider of high speed, high volume injection molding
products. </p>
<p>“I
believe it’s particularly important to connect with business and thought
leaders early and often, both to hear their ideas on how government and the
private sector can work together, but also to promote the tremendous work the Department
of Commerce does on behalf of U.S. companies, whether that’s supporting
manufacturers, empowering exporters to reach new markets, bringing broadband to
communities across the nation, or providing intellectual property protection,”
Secretary Pritzker said. </p>
<p>As
part of her listening tour,&nbsp;Secretary Pritzker will also visit Department
of Commerce facilities located all across the country. In Boulder, she will
visit offices of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
NOAA, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA). In Denver, she will visit with additional Department of Commerce
employees. </p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Background:
</span></strong></p>
<p>Penny Pritzker was sworn in
as the 38th Secretary of Commerce by Vice President Joe Biden on June 26, 2013.</p>
<p>She is a civic and business
leader with more than 25 years of experience in the real estate, hospitality,
senior living, and financial services industries. Ms. Pritzker served as CEO of
PSP Capital Partners, and has previously developed such diverse companies as Vi
(formerly Classic Residence by Hyatt), a leader in luxury living for older
adults; The Parking Spot, a large U.S. network of off-site airport parking
facilities; and Pritzker Realty Group.&nbsp;</p>
<p>President Obama appointed
Ms. Pritzker to the President's Council for Jobs and Competitiveness, which
formerly advised the administration on economic growth and job creation. Ms.
Pritzker previously served on the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
&nbsp;She has also served on the boards of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Wm.
Wrigley Jr. Company, Marmon Group and LaSalle Bank Corporation. She is past
executive chairman of TransUnion, a global financial services information
company. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Much of Ms. Pritzker's
civic work focuses on public education. She served as advisory board chairman
of Skills for America's Future, The Aspen Institute. Skills for America's
Future is a national initiative that brings together businesses, community
colleges and others to prepare workers for 21st century jobs. In 2012, she
helped launch Skills for Chicagoland's Future, the first city model of Skills
for America's Future. Ms. Pritzker is past chair of the Chicago Public
Education Fund, the first venture philanthropy to raise private equity to
invest in public schools, and a former member of the Chicago Board of
Education. &nbsp;</p>
<p>In 2012, Ms. Pritzker
received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, an honor given to
individuals who have served with distinction in public life and have shown a
special commitment to seeking out informed opinions and thoughtful views.
&nbsp;</p>
<p>Ms. Pritzker earned her
bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard University and J.D. and M.B.A.
degrees from Stanford University. She and her husband Dr. Bryan Traubert have
two children. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>Press ReleasesOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerTue, 16 Jul 2013 21:53:22 +0000mkruger@doc.gov15785 at http://www.commerce.govU.S. Department of Commerce: Exports from 50 U.S. Metropolitan Areas Topped $1 Trillion in 2012http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07/11/us-department-commerce-exports-50-us-metropolitan-areas-topped-1-tril
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Thursday, July 11, 2013<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p><strong>29 of top 50 metropolitan areas set new records</strong></p><p>U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today announced that in 2012, the
50 U.S. metropolitan areas that achieved the greatest levels of exports sent
more than $1 trillion in merchandise all over the world, an increase of nearly
$43 billion from 2011. For the first time ever, the Houston metropolitan area ranked No. 1, with total exports of $110
billion (an increase of 5.6 percent over 2011). The New York City metro area
ranked second with $102 billion in exports.</p>
<p>Thirty-one of the top 50 metropolitan area exporters recorded positive growth in exports
between 2011 and 2012. Twenty-nine of these areas set record export
highs last year.</p>
<blockquote><p>“Exports from America’s metropolitan areas have increased for three
consecutive years, and continue to set new records city by city,” said
Secretary Pritzker. “We know that businesses that successfully sell their goods
and services abroad help support local economies and increase our manufacturing
base here at home. That is why the Department of Commerce is committed to
working in communities around the country to help businesses increase their
export potential and enter new markets. U.S. exports support nearly 10 million
American jobs – and their contributions to local economies are being seen from
Washington State to Washington, D.C.”</p></blockquote>
<p>Among the top 25 metropolitan areas, the Washington,
D.C., metro area recorded the highest growth between
2011 and 2012, increasing exports by nearly 43 percent. Other
metropolitan areas that exhibited high growth in exports included San Antonio
(up more than 33 percent from 2011), and Seattle (up more than 22 percent from
2011).</p>
<p>Twenty-two metropolitan areas accounted
for 40 percent of their state’s total export activity in 2012. San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Burlington, Vt.; Honolulu; and
Salt Lake City all represented more than 80 percent of their state exports, while Seattle; Detroit; and Boise,
Idaho, accounted for more than
70 percent of their state merchandise exports.</p>
<p>North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners
Mexico and Canada were the leading destinations for
many metropolitan area exports. For example, exporters in the Detroit
metropolitan area targeted these countries, with exports totaling $20.2 billion
and $16.8 billion to Mexico and Canada, respectively in 2012.</p>
<p>U.S. metropolitan area trade with Mexico increased substantially in 2012,
with metropolitan area exports expanding by 9.1 percent between 2011 and 2012.
In comparison, the growth rate for U.S. metropolitan area exports to the world
was 4.3 percent during the period. The largest
metropolitan area exporters
to Mexico are dominated by
metropolitan areas
that are geographically close
to Mexico and that have fostered supply chain relationships with the country.
Los Angeles and San Diego in California, and Houston, El Paso, Dallas, Laredo,
and Brownsville in Texas are ranked among the top 10 metropolitan exporters to Mexico.</p>
<p>In 2010, President Obama launched a government-wide effort to double U.S.
exports by the end of 2014, and support an additional two million American
jobs. Since the launch of the <a href="http://trade.gov/nei/">National Export Initiative (NEI)</a>, merchandise exports from
metropolitan areas have
increased nearly 40 percent.
Nationally, jobs supported by exports have increased by more than 60 percent
since 2009.</p>
<p>For
more information on the contributions of metro areas to U.S. exports, including
fact sheets for the top 50 metro areas for exports, visit <a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/metroreport/index.asp">http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/metroreport/index.asp</a>.
For a list of the 29 metro areas that set record export highs in 2012, visit <a href="http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_004072.pdf">http://www.trade.gov/mas/ian/build/groups/public/@tg_ian/documents/webcontent/tg_ian_004072.pdf</a>.</p>Press ReleasesExportsInternational tradeNEIInternational Trade AdministrationSecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerThu, 11 Jul 2013 14:15:00 +0000ksullivan@doc.gov15776 at http://www.commerce.govStatement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker on International Trade in Goods and Services in May 2013http://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2013/07/03/statement-us-commerce-secretary-penny-pritzker-international-trade-go
<p class="press-release-header"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong><br />Wednesday, July 3, 2013<br /><strong>CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS</strong><br />202-482-4883</p><p>U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker issued the following statement today on
the release of the May 2013 <a href="http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/USESAEI/2013/07/03/file_attachments/222849/US%2BInternational%2BTrade%2Bin%2BGoods%2Band%2BServices%2B%2528May%2B2013%2529.pdf">U.S.
International Trade in Goods and Services</a> (PDF) data. Both total services
and automotive exports hit record levels in May, although overall U.S. exports
of goods and services dropped slightly to $187.1 billion, from $187.6 billion
in April. Total services exports were led by increases in travel, passenger
fares, and other private services. Imports of goods and services to the United
States increased by $4.4 billion in May, which was led by an increase of
petroleum products. As a result, the trade deficit increased by $4.9 billion in
May. Overall, the United States’ petroleum deficit accounts for roughly
one-half of the total trade deficit. </p>
<p>Since
President Obama launched the National Export Initiative (NEI), establishing the
goal of doubling U.S. exports by the end of 2014 and creating an additional two
million jobs supported by exports, the United States has seen an increase of
1.3 million export-supported positions. The NEI is the first Presidential-led,
government-wide export promotion strategy. Through the initiative’s focus on
improving trade advocacy, removing barriers and enforcing trade rules, U.S.
exports have continued to grow. </p>
<p>“The
President’s focus on exports is paying off, with today’s data showing $187.1
billion in U.S. exports of goods and services,” said Secretary Pritzker. “While
we still have more work to do, we are seeing record export levels in both U.S.
services and automotive exports, with international travel and tourism
increasingly contributing to our economic growth. As we continue working to
strengthen our economy, the U.S. Department of Commerce is committed to helping
U.S. businesses increase their exports abroad in order to support American jobs
here at home.”</p>
<p>###</p>Press ReleasesU.S. International Trade in Goods and ServicesInternational Trade AdministrationOffice of the SecretarySecretary of Commerce Penny PritzkerWed, 03 Jul 2013 15:10:00 +0000mkruger@doc.gov15766 at http://www.commerce.gov